Go Army Beat Navy

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Guess where I'm going to be Saturday?

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December 14th - Feast Day Of St. John Of The Cross

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I'm going to be travelling this weekend, so I 

apologize for having to post this a couple days early.

Pace e Bene my Brothers and Sisters!

Chris

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WWJD

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Peter Denies Jesus Three Times

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Today's Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:11-15

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“In truth I tell you, of all the children born to women, there has never been anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. Since John the Baptist came, up to the present time, the kingdom of Heaven has been subjected to violence and the violent are taking it by storm.

Because it was towards John that all the prophecies of the prophets and of the Law were leading; and he, if you will believe Me, is the Elijah who was to return. Anyone who has ears should listen!”


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The Portiuncula

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The little chapel of Porziuncola was erected under Pope Liberius (352-366) by hermits from the Valley of Josaphat, who had brought relics from the grave of the Blessed Virgin. The same legend relates that the chapel passed into the possession of Benedict of Nursia in 516. It was known as Our Lady of the Valley of Josaphat or of the Angels - the latter title referring, according to some, to the assumption of Mary accompanied by angels; a better-founded opinion attributes the name to a legend attesting to the singing of angels which had been frequently heard there.

The chapel was located on a small portion of land ("Portiuncula") belonging to the Order of Saint Benedict of Monte Subasio. Later, the name of the land passed to the little church itself. It was in bad condition, lying abandoned in a wood of oak trees.

Saint Francis of Assisi built himself a small hut near the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels and was soon joined by others. Here he founded the Franciscans. Around 1211 the small chapel was given to Francis by the abbot of Saint Benedict of Monte Subasio on condition of making it the mother house of his religious family. On Palm Sunday 1211 St. Francis received in this church Clare of Assisi and founded the Second Order of the Poor Ladies Poor Clares. Adjoining this humble sanctuary, already dear to Francis, the first Franciscan convent was formed by the erection of a few small huts or cells of wattle, straw, and mud, and enclosed by a hedge.

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Crown Of Thorns

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CROWN OF THORNS

by CHRIS DICKSON, F.L.A. 

I was in an area of complete and utter darkness. Then a mist appeared, through which two hands appeared that were handing me a crown of thorns.

I took the crown of thorns from the outstretched hands and placed it upon my head. As the crown was being seated upon my head, I prematurely winced, fully expecting searing pain from those thorns to shoot through my head and throughout my entire body.

But instead of pain, a warm and wonderful feeling of joy and peace settled over me. I was being bathed in God’s love.

Simultaneously with the crown of thorns being placed upon my head, a vision appeared before me of a glass mirror “unfurling” like a window shade, even though it was glass.

Jesus then appeared in the glass before me.

I was immediately filled with shame because Jesus had caught me wearing his crown, and I immediately pulled it from my head.

As I did, the glass rolled up and Jesus disappeared.

I then placed the crown back onto my head.

As I did, the glass again unfurled before me...and again Jesus was standing before me.

At that moment, the realization hit me that I was looking into a mirror and seeing my own reflection, and that reflection was my Savior and my Lord! And me! One and the same!

This vision greatly troubled me. After all, who did I think I was, anyway? Was I so vain as to think myself equal to Jesus? God forbid! The vision continued to frighten me long afterwards, fearing that my attitude was obviously not right with God…that is, until I heard these words spoken to me:

“Do not be afraid to put on my crown of thorns.

It is My crown of glory!

Wear it as I did.

I will bear the pain so that you have none.

Then, and only then, will you see Me in glory.

Then we shall meet face to face.

You in me, and I in you.

People will see me in your image.

Give yourselves to Me fully,

And I will come to you in glory…”

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Bingo !!!!!!

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George Soros And His Minions

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Guard Against Exterior Signs Of Holiness

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We must all be on our guard against pride and empty boasting and beware of worldly or natural wisdom. A worldly spirit loves to talk a lot but do nothing, striving for the exterior signs of holiness that people can see, with no desire for true piety and interior holiness of spirit.

Saint Francis of Assisi
The Rule of 1221
Chapter 17

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Forming Attachments

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Abba Zosimas would take whatever he could find - whether a nail or some thread, or anything else of insignificant value - and say: "Who would ever fight or argue over this; or else, who would keep a grudge or be afflicted over this? Unless it be someone who has truly lost his mind. Therefore, a person of God, who is progressing and advancing, should consider the whole world as this nail, even if that person actually possesses the entire world. For, as I always like to say, 'It is not possessing something that is harmful, but being attached to it.' "

Abba Zosimas

Desert Father

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God Is Hidden Between

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For silence is not God, nor speaking; fasting is not God, nor eating; solitude is not God, nor company; nor any other pair of opposites. He is hidden between them, and cannot be found by anything your soul does, but only by the love of your heart. He cannot be known by reason, he cannot be thought, caught, or sought by understanding. But he can be loved and chosen by the true, loving will of your heart.

The Cloud of Unknowing

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Catholic Humor

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Gloria In Eggshell C's, Deo

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Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa!

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LOL

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The Vineyard At Rieti

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Photo of Rieti, Italy

Blessed Francis was staying near the church of St. Fabian in Rieti. A number of cardinals, accompanied by clerics, almost daily visited the saint out of respect and devotion.The church had a small vineyard and since the church had but one door, all those who came to visit passed through that one door, trampling the vineyard under foot. The priest was scandalized and disturbed: "This year," he said, "my vintage is lost. The vineyard is small but every year I harvest enough grapes for my needs."

St. Francis said to the priest: "Stop being disturbed and scandalized: nothing can be done about it. Place your trust in the Lord, because through me, his poor servant, he can repair the damage..."

The priest usually harvested thirteen loads of wine, but that year he harvested twenty from his destroyed vineyard.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of Perugia - 25

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The Impenetrable Darkness That Leads To Union

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St. John of the Cross

What joy! The soul has emerged victorious from the tribulations of the night of sensory purification. She has risen above the state of the beginner and entered the state of the adept. God may not immediately move her into the night of the spirit, now. Instead, the soul may spend years cultivating mastery before she is ready to face the impenetrable darkness that leads to union.

Saint John of the Cross
Dark Night of the Soul
BOOK II
NIGHT OF THE SPIRIT

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Purifying The Mind

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"What greater cure for the wounds of conscience and for purifying the mind's acuity than to persevere in meditation on the wounds of Christ."

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

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Potuit, decuit, ergo fecit!

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Duns Scotus (“the Scot”) in the 14th century was also a stalwart defender of the Immaculate Conception and also used the “Potuit – decuit – ergo fecit” argument.

The argument is useful for the simple reason that it disarms opponents that deny the Immaculate Conception. It is still useful today in sharing your faith with Protestants.

Simply ask, “Could God make a person without original sin?” (potuit)

Next ask, “Would it have been decent or fitting for the Son of God to have his mother 100% pure and loyal to him?” (decuit)

Then follows the conclusion, “Well then, if He could do it and it was fitting, then He did do it. Mary was conceived immaculately (conceived without stain – macula is Latin for “stain”).

Therefore (ergo), God did make his Mother without original sin. (fecit)

So “Potuit, decuit, ergo fecit!” Memorize these four Latin words and you will defend Our Lady with honor.

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Happy Immaculate Conception Non-Feast Day!

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Remember, today is a 

"Holy Day Communion Service"
of  
"Non-Obligation!" 

(Whatever in the world THAT is...)

Please forgive us, Holy Mother, for ignoring your Feast Day... 

Please don't ignore our petitions as we have ignored you, Mary Most Holy...

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Whenever Applause Breaks Out At Mass

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Ignore Garrulous People

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You should not pay attention to garrulous people, and when they accuse others you should treat them with particular reserve, and should not believe them too readily.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Mirror of Perfection - 80

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Judging Others

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One day St. Francis heard a brother insinuate to a poor little man who was begging an alms, "How do I know you're not really rich and pretending to be in need?"

When Francis, the Father of the Poor, heard this, he was deeply saddened. He severely rebuked the brother who had dared to utter such words and ordered him to strip before the beggar and beg his pardon, kissing his feet.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, First Life
Chapter XXVIII

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Idol Worship

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Just as the people of Israel once abandoned worship of their Creator to serve idols made with hands, so too, in our day and age, many religious, indeed, many well-known and respected men, have abandoned the true wisdom in which God alone is worshiped perfectly and inwardly and is adored by single-minded lovers. Instead, they wretchedly fill themselves with all sorts of knowledge, as if to fabricate idols for themselves out of various newfound proofs. Diabolically inspired, these ideas so absorb and take possession of the human spirit that they have no place for true wisdom.

Carthusian Spirituality
Hugh of Balma
The Roads to Zion Mourn (De Mystica Theologia)
Written in 1083 A.D.

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Pare Down Your Closet

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Hiking the "South 40" at the Portiuncula Hermitage in Jerusalem, Ohio

Maybe you're not ready to clothe yourself in a monk's simple habit, but there are still many ways we Lay Franciscans can wean ourselves from a $100 Billion a year fashion industry. Why not pare down your closet and share your wardrobe with a homeless shelter or local soup kitchen with people who really need it? 

Chris

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A New Kind Of Simpleton

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St. Francis spoke to his brothers in the fervor and power of the Holy Spirit, saying, "The Lord told me that He wished me to be a new kind of simpleton in this world, and He does not wish us to live by any other wisdom but this."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Mirror of Perfection - 68

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Jedi

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Monks

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A man is driving down the road and breaks down near a monastery. He
goes to the monastery, knocks on the door, and says, My car broke
down. Do you think I could stay the night?

The monks graciously accept him, feed him dinner, and even fix his
car. As the man tries to fall asleep, he hears a strange sound; a
sound like no other that he has ever heard. The next morning, he
asks the monks what the sound was, but they say, We can't tell you
because you're not a monk.

The man is disappointed but thanks them anyway and goes about his
merry way. Some years later, the same man breaks down in front of
the same monastery.

The monks again accept him, feed him, and even fix his car..

That night, he hears the same strange mesmerizing sound that he
had heard years earlier.

The next morning, he asks what the sound was, but the monks reply,

We can't tell you because you're not a monk.

The man says, all right, all right. I'm dying to know.

If the only way I can find out what that sound was is to become
a  monk, how do I become a monk?

The monks reply, you must travel the earth and tell us how many
blades of grass there are and the exact number of sand pebbles.
When you find these numbers, you will become a monk.

The man sets about his task. Some forty-five years later, he
returns and knocks on the door of the monastery. He says, I have
travelled the earth and devoted my life to the task demanded and
have found what you had asked for. There are 371,145,236,284,232
blades of grass and 231,281,219,999,129,382 sand pebbles on the
earth.

The monks reply, congratulations, you are correct, and you are
now considered a monk .

We shall now show you the way to the sound.

The monks lead the man to a wooden door, where the head monk says,
the sound is behind that door..

The man reaches for the knob, but the door is locked. He asks,
May I have the key ?

The monks give him the key, and he opens the door.

Behind the wooden door is another door made of stone... The man
requests the key to the stone door.

The monks give him the key, and he opens it, only to find a door
made of ruby. He demands another key from the monks, who provide
it. Behind that door is another door, this one made of sapphire.
And so it went on until the man had gone through doors of emerald,...

...silver, topaz, and amethyst.

Finally, the monks say, This is the key to the last door .

The man is relieved to be at the end. He unlocks the door, turns
the knob, and behind that door he is astonished to find the source
of that strange sound. It is truly an amazing and unbelievable sight

... But I can't tell you what it is because you're not a monk.

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The Object Of My Desires

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Ah! What poetry flooded my soul at the sight of all these things I was seeing for the first time and the last time in my life! It was without regret I saw them disappear, for my heart longed for other marvels. It had contemplated earthly beauties long enough; those of heaven were the object of its desires and to win them for souls I was willing to become a prisoner.

Saint Theresa of Lisieux

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